Caryl Brown of North Palm Beach, FL, went home to the Lord Monday, March 29, 2021 days after her 95th birthday on March 24th. She is survived by one brother, David (Joyce) Burgeson of Palm Beach Gardens, FL; four children and twelve grandchildren: Peter (Susan) Brown of Palm Beach Gardens, FL and their children Mason Brown, Alaina Brown, and Astrid Brown; Matthew (Kathy) Brown of Coral Springs, FL and their children Lauren (Justin) Pecaut, AJ Brown, Zachary (Melissa) Brown, and Sarah Brown; Sue (Chris) Wasik of Buena Vista, CO and their children Sean Wasik, Erin (Nolan) Lee, and Brett Wasik; and Trish (Paul) Kempin of Melbourne Beach, FL and their children Elise Kempin and Noah Kempin; and ten great grandchildren. Caryl was predeceased by her husband of 61 years, Edgemon Brown. Caryl also leaves behind many nieces and nephews who were very special to her.
Caryl was born to Oscar Gilbert Burgeson and Inez Felicia Cramer Burgeson and raised in Jamestown, NY along with three siblings, Jeri, Roger, and David. She was predeceased by her sister Jeri, brother Roger, and brother William, who died as an infant.
Caryl attended Nursing school in Buffalo, NY, where she made life-long friends who ventured to Ft Lauderdale with her to begin their nursing careers. On a weekend getaway to Daytona Beach with friends, she met Ed(Bo) who was in the navy, stationed in Jacksonville and also vacationing with buddies. This was the beginning of a long distance romance with correspondence via letter writing.
They were married in Jamestown, NY on August 28, 1954. As newlyweds, Ed earned his Bachelor's degree in Engineering from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville while Caryl worked as an RN. They then moved to South Florida, and after outgrowing their first home moved to North Palm Beach in 1961, where they stayed in the same house for the remainder of their lives. The neighborhood was and still is an ideal place to raise a family, one where neighbors look after one another.
Caryl and Ed had two boys followed by twin girls in less than four years. Caryl was the ultimate homemaker: she sewed most of the children’s clothes, always prepared home-cooked meals(dinner was always eaten together as a family) and she always kept the home spick and span. On top of running the household, she found time for volunteer work with girl scouts, the kids’ schools, and church. Never one to be idle, she enjoyed knitting, crocheting and needlepoint in whatever spare time she had.
Caryl had a servant’s heart, deep faith in God, a strong work ethic, and she was an amazing caregiver her entire life. Once her children were grown she worked as a home health nurse, volunteered as a pink lady at PBG Medical Center, made countless “scrubbies” to benefit Family Promise (a charity for the homeless supported by her church), and she sang with the Morning Glories (who spread the joy of the Lord through music) for over 30 years. She was the primary caregiver to Ed for the last ten years of his life, as well as for her own parents in their final years.
Aside from her family, some of Caryl’s passions in life were music, nature, birding, the beach, playing games, and jigsaw puzzles. She sang in the church choir from an early age until just last year when the COVID pandemic kept her from going to church. Over the years, she was a lifeguard, a swim instructor, was on bowling teams, and played tennis regularly. In their retirement years, Caryl and Ed enjoyed travelling via bus tours and cruises, and they especially enjoyed visiting the National Parks.
Following the death of Ed in 2016, she began riding a tricycle at the age of 90 around her NPB neighborhood, quickly building up to five miles per day. She was able to ride, weather permitting, every day until very recently. This brought her much joy and great health.
Caryl’s quiet, humble, yet strong spirit has left a beautiful legacy, and she will be greatly missed.
A service celebrating Caryl’s life will be held at Oceanview United Methodist Church, 701 Ocean Drive, Juno Beach on Saturday, May 8th at 2:00pm.
MOM...
Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Proverbs 31:31
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